About 94 East-West

Project Map

The project covers approximately 3.5 miles of I-94 between 70th Street and 16th Street in Milwaukee County. The project includes the Stadium Interchange (WIS 175/WIS 341/Brewer Blvd) and interchanges at 70th Street/68th Street, Hawley Road, Mitchell Boulevard, 35th Street, and 26th Street/St. Paul Avenue. Read more below to learn more about the improvements happening at each of these locations.

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For more information, click the red circles on the map or the location names below.

Touch each location icon in the map below for more information.

Map of the project limits showing six locations highlighted with red circles.

70th Street/68th Street

The 68th and 70th Street interchange will be reconstructed in a similar manner to what exists today. The interchange type is known as a split diamond interchange with I-94 traveling over both roadways and one-way frontage roads between 70th and 68th Streets for both east and west bound traffic. Traffic will enter and exit I-94 from the same locations as today.

The travel lanes will be 12-ft wide matching their current width, and the shoulders will be widened to 12-ft except for a short distance through the cemeteries between Hawley Road and Mitchell Boulevard.

detailed design

Mitchell Boulevard

The General Mitchell Boulevard (Mitchell Boulevard) interchange is a vital connector for local neighborhoods and businesses, healthcare facilities such as the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, and American Family Field. The Mitchell Boulevard interchange accommodates local traffic, as well as high volumes of regional traffic during daily commutes and special events. Project designs maintain the Mitchell Boulevard interchange, with all movements shifted to the right-hand side. Access is maintained through a “hook ramp” underneath the Stadium Interchange (WIS 175/WIS 341/Miller Park Way).

detailed design

Hawley Road

Hawley Road Interchange will be reconstructed as a half-interchange; ramps to and from the east will be eliminated while access to and from the west will remain. The impacted sections of Hawley Road underneath I-94 will include improvement for bike and pedestrian users.

detailed design

Stadium Interchange

WisDOT has redesigned the Stadium Interchange to a service interchange which reduces the estimated construction cost by approximately $80 million. The selected alternative includes a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at the Stadium Interchange with I‐94 traveling over WIS 175/Brewers Boulevard and the highest point of the DDI matching the existing interchange elevation.

detailed design

35th Street

35th Street Interchange will be reconstructed in a similar footprint as today with modified access to/from the Stadium Interchange. Changes will be made to connections at Park Hill to improve safety in the local neighborhoods.

detailed design

26th Street/St. Paul Avenue

The interchange will be reconstructed with similar traffic operations to today. Due to mainline freeway widening and safety improvements, some businesses in the area will be relocated and some local road intersections will change.

WisDOT, the City of Milwaukee, and local Community Based Organizations are working on improved bike and pedestrian accommodations to better connect the neighborhoods to the north with the jobs and recreation opportunities in the Menomonee Valley.

detailed design

70TH STREET/68TH STREET

HAWLEY ROAD

MITCHELL BOULEVARD

STADIUM INTERCHANGE

35TH STREET

28TH STREET/ST.PAUL AVENUE

Project Overview

WisDOT is completing the final design of the I-94 East-West corridor. The project includes the Stadium Interchange (WIS 175/WIS 341/Miller Park Way) and five local/service interchanges.

Connecting our Communities

This portion of the I-94 East-West Freeway corridor opened to traffic in 1961 and 1962. It is the link between the Marquette Interchange and Zoo Interchange. It plays a key role in moving local traffic, commuters, tourists, freight, and other movements to major sites around and beyond the Southeast region of the state.

The I-94 East-West Corridor is one of the busiest routes in southeastern Wisconsin. It serves as a vital link to Milwaukee, the western suburbs of Milwaukee, and Madison, and is also part of a major east-west Interstate route serving national, regional, and local traffic for trips within and through the study area.

Traffic from around the region, state and nation passes through this corridor, and there are many major institutions and tourist attractions that are in close proximity, including:

Veterans Administration complex
American Family Field
Molson Coors Brewery
Menomonee Valley businesses, including Potawatomi Casino
State Fairgrounds
Marquette University
Downtown Milwaukee

next steps

WisDOT has maintained and rehabilitated the ramps, bridges, pavements and other structures over the past 60 years, and the corridor is nearing the end of its useful life cycle. Reconstructing the corridor with the approved plan will ensure that I-94 serves the economy of Southeastern Wisconsin for decades to come.

Bridges

3.5

Miles

Originally Constructed In

the early 1960s

158K-178k

Vehicles Per Day

60+ years old

26% of the population

of the 7-county region are within 5-miles of the stadium interchange

35% of the businesses

in the 7-county region are within 5-miles of the stadium interchange

Project Videos

Check out our project videos and visualizations of the planned improvements.

Purpose and Need Summary

At 60 years old, the I-94 East-West project corridor has a variety of needs in order to maintain it as a key link in the local, regional, state, and national transportation network. The project will address:

Deteriorated pavement condition of the interstate highway
Outdated and obsolete roadway and bridge design
Existing and future traffic conditions
High crash rates in the corridor (up to two to three times higher than the statewide average)

full Purpose and need document

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Design

Deterioration

Safety

Traffic Demand

Current congestion on I-94 during the morning and afternoon rush hours increases the likelihood of crashes. There can also be severe congestion during special events.

Thirteen bridges in the I-94 East-West project corridor do not meet minimum vertical clearance standards. Addressing the substandard design of roadways and bridges will improve safety and decrease crashes.

Most of the original pavement from the 1960s construction is still in place. Although there have been three pavement overlays and structure repairs, each has a shorter life span than the previous overlay.

Most crash rates in the I-94 East-West Corridor are higher than the statewide average. Updated roadway and bridge designs will provide a safer, more efficient transportation system in the I-94 East-West corridor by eliminating left hand exit and entrance ramps and modernizing the corridor.